Personal trainers

[CraigLeeJKD]

Hi,

Next month I'm gonna be starting a level 2 Fitness instructor course progressing on to the level 3 personal trainer award with YMCA.

I know there have been posts before mentioning the difficulties in being successful in such a career but I'm just curious, how hard is it really to make it as a PT? I would have thought with how health conscious society is these days, now would be a more oppurtune time than ever to pursue such career.

Obviously I'd have to be based in the more affluent areas. Living near Durham, that shouldn't be a problem (I hope).

I was hoping some of you out there who are already personal trainers (especially the UK guys and girls) could give me some advice?

One thing I'm wondering is what kind of prices a guy like me would want to be charging immediatley upon recieving my qualification?

There is surprisingly little information available on the net on stuff like this. Either that or I just suck at searching? :p

Any advice would be much appreciated.

CraiG

[Incredible Bulk]

go to www.muscletalk.co.uk

they have a fair few experts on this subject ;)

[CraigLeeJKD]

I'll do that, thanks very much :D

[TheCount]

Just be careful not to be abused and verballed raped off the forum hehe. That tends to happen quite a bit :D

[Incredible Bulk]

lol, stop spoiling our fun :D

[CraigLeeJKD]

Well I started the course today.

I'm pleased to see I am familiar with a lot of it thanks to A-level Human Biology and my own personal research.

Onwards and upwards :)

[TheMachine]

Just remember that at the end of the day, one thing would matter: Results

[Victoria]

Hi Craig, how is the course going now?

What qualification will the level 2 give you, and will you gain entry on the REP?

Also level 3 Personal Training is made up of five level 3 units. Maybe this is different between examining bodies :confused:

I'm starting level 2 later in the year before doing the level 3's. There doesn't seem to be much about on this but I agree with society waking up to health and fitness, it should be successful. (though, I've scrolled through jobs offered and wages seem to be NMW!) I think you'd have to look at going private but it might take you some time to get established and known. What I'm planning is doing freelance on the side while at uni.

Do you have any experience in instructing/coaching/gym/leisure centre work? If you're doing level 2 now then maybe not, so you'd need to look at that. (not that you need level 2 for leisure centre work)

[CraigLeeJKD]

Hi Victoria,

The level 2 will give me a qualification in Instructing Gym, and will gain me entry to REP's.

Following this I do level 2 circuit training then the 5 Personal Trainer award units (advanced gym instructor, training in different environments, lifestyle and fitness assessment, nutrition and weight management, and business skills). I'll come out of this with an NVQ level 3.

There is also around 60 hours of work experience to be completed as part of the course.

I've been thinking along the same lines as yourself regarding going freelance. It definitley seems the way to go, although I understand it may take some time to build up a client base.

At the end of the day though 20-25 hours a week is all I'll be looking to work.

What uni course are you doing?

Thankyou for the reply :)

Craig

[Victoria]

Hi Victoria,

The level 2 will give me a qualification in Instructing Gym, and will gain me entry to REP's.

Following this I do level 2 circuit training then the 5 Personal Trainer award units (advanced gym instructor, training in different environments, lifestyle and fitness assessment, nutrition and weight management, and business skills). I'll come out of this with an NVQ level 3.
Yep that's it :) Same as me. I hadn't seen about the 60 hours work experience but I might have missed it :rolleyes:

I've been thinking along the same lines as yourself regarding going freelance. It definitley seems the way to go, although I understand it may take some time to build up a client base.
If successful it'll work out a lot better than being employed for NMW. The job center isn't much to go by but if you look at fitness instructors and onwards, the wage is robbery (It almost put me off).
Freelancing would certainly be best, especially if you're doing something else like uni/another job while you build up experience.

I'm hoping to do sport and exercise science, when I finish the college I dropped 7 years ago :o

Are you doing anything related or just Personal Training?

[spirez]

What sort of program do you have to follow with these courses?

I was planning to start a sport & exercise science degree this year and also look at taking some sort of personal training course but am unsure if i'd have time for both.

Are there any good books on the subject?

[blessed_samurai]

Few things-

Have cards made up that are easily accessible to potential clients in teh gym.

You might have to take on a couple or so free clients and when others see results, that will speak volumes about yoru ability and essentially it's advertising.

Don't be afraid to specialize but don't get caught up in specializing because it can limit you.

Don't get discouraged if things don't happen quickly. There are A LOT of personal trainers out there.

Do A LOT of outside research.

[Victoria]

Thanks blessed samurai :) Some good ideas. Luckily one of the sections covered is business so we should have a much better idea at that point :D

What sort of program do you have to follow with these courses?

I was planning to start a sport & exercise science degree this year and also look at taking some sort of personal training course but am unsure if i'd have time for both.

Are there any good books on the subject?
Program? Here's a link for a level 2 Gym Instructor course, but it might vary depending on where you are/who you're doing the course with:
http://www.fitnesswales.co.uk/view_course.asp?ref=30

The courses are available as short courses/weekends/evenings. Have a look around. The link above is one that's completed on weekends over the course of a few weeks. So it's not like a two year qualification :cool: I'm planning to have done these courses before starting uni, but I should imagine it would be ok to do them while at uni depending on other commitments.

I'm sorry I don't know about books. Try searching on Amazon :cool: (and remember go through MAP if you purchase anything :D )

[Tom@Foresight]

Personal training is an very hard area to get into, in the old days gyms would allow outside trainers to bring clients in to train them in exchange for a cut of what you took on site. So a trainer would charge a client say £25 for a hour give the gym £5 and make £20. The big gyms cottened on to this an put in place thier own trainers paying them £10 per hour and charging £25, making the gym £15 per hour.

This leaves the freelance trainer with home base sessions/corporate/other, avenues of work. Unless you are very lucky and get yourself a place in a small independent gym. A few companies like fitness first still allow freelancers in but take a massive cut and you have to do large amounts of free gym floor work.

If you are only doing a level two i would suggest you get yourself some decent gym based experience. Most freelance PT's are level three with advanced add ons such as over 50's, anate/post natal, gp referral, etc...

There is still alot of work out there but as i say it is very hard to brake into.

Get gym based experience, build you skill bases up, get a level three plus as many other courses as you can, build your adherance skills up, build up a contact network in your area. Then very carefully look at your market and see if there is space for you.

CraigLeeJKD PM sent

TOM

[Victoria]

Thank you very much Tom. Myself and Craig are both looking to do level 3's.

If the PM is Personal Trainer related maybe you could post it here so I (and anyone else doing the same thing) can see too? :)

[Tom@Foresight]

Thank you very much Tom. Myself and Craig are both looking to do level 3's.

If the PM is Personal Trainer related maybe you could post it here so I (and anyone else doing the same thing) can see too? :)


Just my contact details for any further questions.

PM sent VICTORIA

TOM

[Victoria]

Just my contact details for any further questions.

PM sent VICTORIA

TOM
Thanks Tom.


How are you finding the course Craig??

[CraigLeeJKD]

Nice tips Blessed and Tom, thankyou.

Victoria, I'm finding it strange to be in the whole academic structure again. Much of the material I have already covered doing A level Human Biology and my own personal research but some of it is very new. I need some books actually, especially around things like ossification, joints, muscle structure etc. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I've got a timetable set out, which means I've arranged so that I'm studying at least 10 hours a week.

I expect it will take me til about July to complete the level 2, then around this time next year should hopefully be when I complete the level 3. Is it September you start your level 2?

Peace,

Craig

[Victoria]

Hi Craig, that sounds interesting! I didn't think there'd be that much new academically, but it sounds like there's quite a bit.

Do they give you the notes/recommend books or are you expected to learn off your own back?

Yes it's September I'm planning on doing it. Better get the brain cogs back in motion :Alien:

[CraigLeeJKD]

The majority of my course is actually home-study through www.fitnessindustryeducation.com, but they do it through CYQ (Central YMCA qualifications) so it is very much valid and reputable.

Basically, I download all of the notes from their site. I study, attend optional training days, do some work experience, then sit the exams (practical and theory).

Although there is a lot of information I, personally, dont feel the notes they have given me are enough, thus I feel the need to grab some books on the topics.

I've matched the material I have been given with that of what my local college teaches (as they also do level 2 fitness instructor gym and level 3 personal training) and the course I am doing covers everything the college teaches, and more! The bonus being I get to study when I want, and can take as long as I want before I need to sit the exam.

It benefits my learning style as well. I can never really absorb anything in a class room, I have to study in my own time, alone, to be able to really understand and learn something.

Come September I'm sure you will be fine :D

[Victoria]

The bonus being I get to study when I want, and can take as long as I want before I need to sit the exam.
That is indeed a bonus.

What I'm doing is in a classroom (I prefer that way, left to my own time I'd end up in the pool instead!). It's full days over a few weekends, then the exam, which still fits in as it's weekends :)

I member of staff at the gym came out with some crackers the other day. Like, "135bpm is a good resting heart rate". What the hell??? I hope I don't come out of it like that :D

[CraigLeeJKD]

I member of staff at the gym came out with some crackers the other day. Like, "135bpm is a good resting heart rate". What the hell??? I hope I don't come out of it like that :D

LMAO.

I actually have a friend who has a resting heart rate of 120bpm. She only has one lung too. Hehe I remember a few years ago in Psychology class we all had to get our resting heart rates measured and psychology lecturer's face when he measured my friends'.....quality stuff.

[Tom@Foresight]

Some book's that i have read that you might find useful:-

The first is a must!

1) Personal Training Theory and Practice, By James Crossley (Hodder Arnold, 2006)
A great book that covers all the basics you need to know about and a great itroduction to more advanced skills suck as exercise psychology and postural assesment.

2) Atlas of Skeletal Muscles, By Robert Stone (Mc Graw Hill, 2000)
A very useful book helps you to visualise all the origins and insertions

3)Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness, A Waugh + A. Grant ( Churchill Livingstone, 2003)
A great book that covers all everything you could possibly need to know about anatomy and physiology in a stright forward manner, but a bit more depth than on a standard Level 3 COurse.

Hope these help

TOM

[Tom@Foresight]

Just another thought,

another great resource that you can use but i costs about £60 annually, is www.ptonthenet.com

TOM

[CraigLeeJKD]

Tom, many thanks for the recommendations, I'll be sure to get hold of them.

Much appreciated,

Craig

[Tom@Foresight]

When will you both be graduateing?

Have you had any thoughts about avanues of work yet?

TOM

[CraigLeeJKD]

I expect it will be between March - July next year for me.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm gonna do yet. I definitley want to be freelance but I might look at starting off in one of the well known chain of gyms.

[Victoria]

Thanks for the books Tom. I'll probably pick some up, especially the first one :)

My level two is over a few weekends then the exam etc, so should be all finished by the beginning of next year. Then on to level 3 :cool:
I'm only thinking of freelancing at the moment, or something part time while at uni :)

[Tom@Foresight]

Freelance is a very difficult area to get in on, but possible if you offer a good level of service and don't go crazy on the old priceing.

I am currently working on a series of articles for PTonthenet about setting up a PT company in the UK. When i get them done in the next few months i will e-mail you copies if you are interested.

Craig, it is oftern a good idea to start in a gym and prctice your art! Get practice in when it is not costing you money via lost clients. There are also alot of chains that will provide you with funding for 12 REP's points a year, so thats another course out of them.

Victoria, WHat will you be studying in uni? Sports related?

TOM

[Victoria]

Sports science :)

Yes those articles would be worth a read Tom. Thank you!

[spirez]

Tom i've just ordered the first two books you recommended, thanks for that.

I'd also be interested in seeing those articles once done please, if that's ok with you?

Victoria just a quick question, how old are you going to be when you start the course? Reason i ask is that i;ve seen something about being an independent or mature student if over the age of 21, or if you have been working since leaving school. This means you may not need to pay the course fees but i'm not sure exactly how this system works.

Have you done A-level or college qualifications?

Cheers

[taekwonguy]

your key to success guys! (http://www.mattfurey.com/100k_year.html )
:D

[taekwonguy]

lol I also want to be a personal trainer, something like Ross Enamait, I am starting a National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science in September, then I want to get a level three certification that can be done alongside I think, then I want to do a degree in Sport Science, is this a good route?

[spirez]

I'm in a similar situation as you because i come from an engineering background, meaning i have no biology or sport qualifications.

I say similar because my choices are either to do a 1 year foundation degree before a 3 year degree at uni or do a two year national diploma at college and then head straight onto the 2nd year of the sport science degree.

I'm going to go the uni route i think because the college environment is ****. I did engineering for 4 years and there are too manhy little chav kids thinking they own the place, it;s really quite sad!

[Tom@Foresight]

HI all

The uni route is a good one, however make sure you do a course with a REP's level 3 included. Some courses are tailored towards people who are looking at doing research into sport, work in bio mechanics ect.. and not really geared up to give you the skills for PT work.

Before you consider uni i would weigh up a vocational course such as the Premier Diploma (www.premierglobal.co.uk) or the YMCA PT course (www.ymcafit.org.uk). These are the two market leaders, each course is about 6 weeks long full time and are conducted at venues across the UK. Premier also does a full 12 week course which is PT, nutritional advice, sports therapy and body massage. YMCA has a similar one too.

Personally i did the Premier course for my Level three in 2000, found the course content and structure great! since then i have done other courses with both premier and YMCA and could not fault them.

TOM

[Tom@Foresight]

PS anyone who would like copies of the PT business articles when done (should have series done in April) just PM me you e-mail addy and i will get tehm sent out to you.

TOM

[Tom@Foresight]

Hi all,

Just thought i would post this here for all you looking at PT training:-

http://www.trainingshow.co.uk/

Training Show at Excel London 19th and 20th May, same weekend as Seni, so all those going down for that can pop their head in.
Never been to this show myself so do not know how good it will be or if it is worth it, but going to have a look in this year.

TOM

[spirez]

Just a little bump for this thread.

I've just completed my first week of the Premier Diploma (http://www.premierglobal.co.uk/course/diploma.aspx) and have to say that so far it's been absolutely fantastic! We've started out with some basic biology and physiology info with some training theory thrown in to mix it up a bit but the proper training theory starts next week. It's still fairly basic at this level but once i start the actual level 3 personal trainer part it's going to get more in-depth. I'm only studying level 2 gym instruction at the moment but it's a great foundation to build upon.

The information seems really good and is delivered excellently, i'm picking it up realy quickly.

It was an expensive course but this is going to set me up for life hopefully so it's a small price to pay imo. Plus from what i;ve seen of people who've done other courses it seems structured much better, more up to date and the info seems better too. One mate did a future fit course and the work he showed me didn't look all that great. It actually seemed a little dated

[spirez]

double post

[Tom@Foresight]

Hi Spirez,

Glad your enjoying the course mate!!

TOM

[jabcrosshook]

I figured I may aswell "hijack" this thread rather than create a new one :)

Personal training is something I'm looking into and I intend to take the level 3 course after all my A level exams are done. I just wondered how one would go about being a freelance personal trainer.

Wouldn't you need your own gym? Surely people work freelance without having their own gym, no?

[Sparkle]

I figured I may aswell "hijack" this thread rather than create a new one :)

Personal training is something I'm looking into and I intend to take the level 3 course after all my A level exams are done. I just wondered how one would go about being a freelance personal trainer.

Wouldn't you need your own gym? Surely people work freelance without having their own gym, no?

I was looking into this earlier and the ISAA or ISSAA . . . something like that really informed me on it. They do online course certification and one of my local gyms has a personal trainer that went through them. They also offer business courses for your questions (bleh* I'm advertising) as well, I had some long discussions with the guy on the telephone.

Basically from the jist of it you have to build your clients up. You can either advertise yourself (which I'm sure would be a bit difficult, people would be taking a chance on you) or you could go through a gym, get clients there and only take a share in what you make, and then when you are a recognized name in your town/community you could branch off by yourself.

[cxw]

While you're doing the theory, make sure you're doing practise.

Key questions:
- Are you helping yourself or others increasing their strength? And what have been the results?
- Same again except for fat loss.
- Have you help competitive sports people improve their physical condition? This is an area that will be quite challenging as you'll have to figure out to integrate your training into the entire training of the person.

If you can get people to train now, then that would be really good. Even if you have to start off free for the first people until you get a reputation as being able to get results.

Charles Poliquin started out training after a member of a volleyball team asked for advice. After getting results with this person, the rest of the volleyball team hired Poliquin to help train them. And it carried on from there.

Results > Theory

[Tom@Foresight]

I figured I may aswell "hijack" this thread rather than create a new one :)

Personal training is something I'm looking into and I intend to take the level 3 course after all my A level exams are done. I just wondered how one would go about being a freelance personal trainer.

Wouldn't you need your own gym? Surely people work freelance without having their own gym, no?

Hi

As i have said earlier in this thread once you are qualified i really do reccommend that you work in a gym for a short period, not as well paid or as glamorous as a freelance PT but it will give you a much needed chance to hone your new skilld in a supported enviroment.

The freelance PT market is becoming increasingly packed. Premier alone churn out about 150 new PT's every three months across the UK. Most tend to try to establish themselves as freelance PT's initially. There is also a great deal of established companies offering this service.

I would go into a gym setting for a year, ractice your skills get some advanced training, and put togatehr a business plan based on your experience.

Then look at gaining clients one at a time, offer a good quality service, always be smart and on time, abd most importantly make sure your clients achive thier goals! You should see the clients roll in.!


TOM